To die with dignity is usually the desire of every patient who suffers from a terminal illness. To die with dignity is often used to justify the request for the intentional ending of a person's life, when suffering from a terminal illness; as the anticipation of loss of dignity is too great to contemplate. Being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness disrupts one's life story and results in a multitude of actual and potential losses. One of the most feared losses for some, is the loss of dignity as the illness progresses. As health professionals we need to know more about the complex phenomenon of dignity. Once we understand what dignity means for our patients, it is important that we are mindful of how we can assist our patients to maintain their sense of dignity as they face the prospect of suffering increasing dependence on others for their care and ultimately death itself. This is important not only for the patient's experience but also for surviving family and friends.